396.1 GE/4–2754: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State
priority
Dulte 14. Repeated information Paris 128, London 78, Saigon 6. For Acting Secretary from the Secretary. Chauvel tells us French have been thinking how they might try to limit Indochina discussions of Geneva to Vietnam. The Laniel proposal of March 51 calls for a Viet Minh withdrawal from both Laos and Cambodia, but French recognize that Soviets may counter with suggestion of French withdrawal from these states. Therefore, French asked Navarre for his estimate as to whether from military viewpoint French could withdraw their forces from Laos and Cambodia without overthrow of present Laos and Cambodia regime by Communist insurrectionists. Navarre replied that if Viet Minh withdrew from Laos and Cambodia, French could also withdraw since existing Laotian and Cambodian forces are sufficient to keep situation in hand and prevent successful insurrectionary uprising.
We expressed some doubts and Chauvel replied that French Government accepted Navarre’s estimate which was considered judgment of French High Command in Indochina and best estimate available.